Animals are suffering and no one is doing anything
Animals are suffering and no one is doing anything
I am very concerned about the health of some livestock that live near me. Every day I pass these three cows and my heart breaks for them. They are literally skin and bones. No grass to eat. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.
The humane society said they don’t have the authority to do anything about it, and told me to make a police report. Well, they won’t do anything about it, either.
Some way or some how we need to bring awareness to everyone. It is not fair, and I’m hoping you could help me. This would be a great topic to write about in our newspaper, and hopefully the owners will realize that they are committing animal cruelty and abuse to these poor cows. Please, please help.
Tabitha Booth, Kapaa
Protect workers, raise minimum wage
Tuesday, The Garden Island published yet another anti-minimum-wage column. This one came from a business-funded think tank that has a simple solution for all problems: no government regulation. Yep, just let business do whatever makes a profit and don’t worry about the people today or the environment tomorrow.
Here’s an alternative suggestion: make America great again by protecting the poorest workers like we did 50 years ago. Back then, adjusted for inflation, minimum-wage workers earned significantly more than minimum-wage workers earn today.
Will a few workers lose their jobs if the minimum wage goes up? Perhaps. But given Hawaii’s current low unemployment rate, those who lose their jobs will soon find new ones. And those new jobs will pay a fairer wage. Then they and those who didn’t lose their jobs will all make a big step forward on the road out of poverty.
Dan Freund, Kapaa
Once and for all, the minimum wage should be adjusted for inflation according to what it was 50 years ago.
Then adjust it annually just like Social Security is adjusted.
Dan…thank you for your insightful letter! Yes, maybe we have ‘low unemployment’ which the orange commander is thief speaks of so proudly….that is partly true because many folks have to work two or three jobs to survive! Remember, during slavery the unemployment rate for African Americans was ZERO!
Seriously, something needs to be done for the cattle. I donate to the humane society in hopes that they help all neglected animals.
Hawai’i could be classified as border line 3rd world country. Federal aide is a must. Why would federal pay for above the minimum wage? There would be no real value. This is not the high tech industry we are talking about. It would be lower than the national average.
Why in the world would someone make an appeal like this and not give the location of the animals?
Why ask, With your track record on comments I’m sure no one would expect help from you! I have read hundreds if not thousands of comments from you. A capitol “R” for your middle name would suite you very well sir.
You didn’t answer my question. There is no indication that you read it. Was the concept too complex or were the words too big?
For example, have you ever gone to a place like Olangapo, subic bay, Philippines? Their economic outlook is much broader than Hawai’i. Meaning the geographical area is larger. Over 10 million people in a certain region. So they judge on the quantity, and as for the quality of the products, they have American base companies all over the world. Even in the Philippines, American base companies exist. What you have is an influx of workers doing the best job, at the lowest possible price or labor. That is the market price. Hawai’i is the same way. Do you feel Hawai’i is better than the workers in Olangapo, Subic bay Philippines? Probably not. Because there is world poverty that exist there.
The real wage is the price that we can work for and still be happy. What is it? For a McDonald’s restaurant worker, some place, it is $16.50 to $17 dollars per hour. Here in Hawai’i, it is a mere $8.75 per hour. I make above the minimum. Not at a restaurant, I make $12.25 dollars per hour doing another industry. Not hotel. So you can see, some people are a little more happy. It all depends on your skill level. The workers must fight for the job they want.